Calvinism
John Calvin, often regarded as "the systematizer
of the Reformation," was a second-generation Protestant Reformer of the
sixteenth century who invented a biblical doctrine system. At the same time, he
was a pastor, his views have not always been popular. His system of theology
has had a very wide influence down to the present time, as indicated by the
fact that all Reformed and Presbyterian churches look back to him as the founder
of their biblical-theological doctrinal position. (Too bad they didn't look
back to God's word! Perhaps they would not be so dead today, spiritually)
The formal principle and source of Calvin's theological system is embodied in the techniques of historical grammatical exegesis through his humanistic and legal studies. He rejected the medieval fourfold interpretation which allowed allegorizing, spiritualizing, and moralizing, insisting that the literal meaning of the words was to be taken in their historical context. On this basis he sought to develop a theology that would set forth in a systematic form the teaching of Scripture. He was, however, no rationalist, for he constantly stressed the fact that while the Bible reveals God and his purposes to us, yet there is always the mystery of the divine Being and counsel which no human thought can penetrate. Deut. 29:29 was a verse to which he referred many times.
A little known fact about John
Calvin
Taken from the book “Believer's Conditional Security” By Dan Corner
On October 27, 1553 John Calvin, the
founder of Calvinism, had Michael Servetus, the Spanish physician, burned at
the stake just outside of Geneva for his doctrinal heresies! Hence, the originator of the popular doctrine of
"once saved, always saved" (known in certain circles as "the
perseverance of the saints") violated the cry of the Reformation --
"Sola Scriptura" -- by murdering a doctrinal heretic without
Scriptural justification. This event was something Calvin had considered long
before Servetus was even captured, for Calvin wrote his friend, Farel, on
February 13, 1546 (seven years prior to Servetus' arrest) and
went on record as saying:
"If he
[Servetus] comes [to Geneva], I shall never let him go
out alive if my authority has weight."
Evidently, in that day Calvin's authority in
Geneva, Switzerland had ultimate "weight." This is why some referred
to Geneva as the "Rome of Protestantism"and to Calvin as the
"Protestant 'Pope' of Geneva."
During Servetus'
trial, Calvin wrote: "I hope that the verdict will call for the death penalty."
All this reveals a side of John Calvin that
is not well-known or very appealing, to say the least! Obviously, he had a
prolonged, murderous hate in his heart and was willing to violate Scripture to
put another to death and in a most cruel way. Although Calvin consented to
Servetus' request to be beheaded, he acquiesced to the mode of execution
employed. But why did Calvin have a death wish for Servetus?
"To rescue Servetus
from his heresies, Calvin replied with the latest edition of his 'Institutes of
the Christian Religion,' which Servetus promptly returned with insulting
marginal comments. Despite Servetus's [sic] pleas, Calvin, who developed an
intense dislike of Servetus during their correspondence, refused to return any
of the incriminating material."
"Convicted of heresy
by the Roman Catholic authorities, Servetus escaped the death penalty by a
prison break. Heading for Italy, Servetus unaccountably stopped at Geneva,
where he had been denounced by Calvin and the Reformers. He was seized the day
after his arrival, condemned as a heretic when he refused to recant, and burned
in 1553 with the apparent tacit approval of Calvin."
In the course of his
flight from Vienne, Servetus stopped in Geneva and made the mistake of
attending a sermon by Calvin. He was recognized and arrested after the service.
"Calvin had
him [Servetus] arrested as a heretic. Convicted and burned to
death."
From the time that Calvin had him arrested on
August 14th until his condemnation, Servetus spent his remaining days:
" ... in an
atrocious dungeon with no light or heat, little food, and no sanitary
facilities."
Let it be noted that the Calvinists of Geneva
put half-green wood around the feet of Servetus and a wreath strewn with sulfur
on his head. It took over thirty minutes to render him lifeless in such a fire,
while the people of Geneva stood around to watch him suffer and slowly die!
Just before this happened, the record shows:
"Farel walked beside
the condemned man, and kept up a constant barrage of words, in complete
insensitivity to what Servetus might be feeling. All he had in mind was to
extort from the prisoner an acknowledgement [sic] of his theological error -- a
shocking example of the soulless cure of souls. After some minutes of this,
Servetus ceased making any reply and prayed quietly to himself. When they
arrived at the place of execution, Farel announced to the watching crowd: 'Here
you see what power Satan possesses when he has a man in his power. This man is
a scholar of distinction, and he perhaps believed he was acting rightly. But
now Satan possesses him completely, as he might possess you, should you fall
into his traps.'
When the executioner
began his work, Servetus whispered with trembling voice: 'Oh God, Oh God!' The
thwarted Farel snapped at him: 'Have you nothing else to say?' This time
Servetus replied to him: 'What else might I do, but speak of God!' Thereupon he
was lifted onto the pyre and chained to the stake. A wreath strewn with sulfur
was placed on his head. When the faggots were ignited, a piercing cry of horror
broke from him. 'Mercy, mercy!' he cried. For more than half an hour
the horrible agony continued, for the pyre had been made of half-green wood,
which burned slowly. 'Jesus, Son of the eternal God, have mercy on
me,' the tormented man cried from the midst of the flames ...."